Two local veterans have been awarded scholarships through the Gary L. Valeri Scholarship Program by The Resource Training Center of Amherst and S.E.R.V. Niagara. The scholarship, named after the former husband of S.E.R.V. Niagara’s founder who lost his long battle with addiction, will help train veterans to work as Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC). 

When the Drums Along the Waterfront tour of Champions event brings the top seven drum corps in the world to Robert E. Rich, Sr. All-High Stadium, located at 2885 Main St., Buffalo, for a 7 p.m. show on Aug. 3, one local resident will be making his triumphant return to Western New York.

Jamestown native Zane Franco is a member of The Cadets of Allentown, Pa. We were able to catch up with him between long practice sessions leading up to the Buffalo appearance.

When did you join The Cadets and what is your current role with them?

New York State Senator Mark Grisanti recently named Joseph Pasek as the sixth recipient of his “Veteran of the Month” recognition program.

A resident of the City of Tonawanda who served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, Pasek is the sixth recipient of a monthly honor presented by Senator Grisanti following an application and nomination process coordinated by staff members in Grisanti’s veterans liaison office.

“I am pleased to recognize Joseph with this honor,” said Senator Grisanti, a member of the New York State Senate’s Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committees. “I commend him for his career of distinguished service and applaud him for his work as an active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Tonawanda, where he serves on their board of directors. His community involvement is admirable, especially what he has done over the past two years with the ‘Come Fly A Kite For Homeless Veterans’ event.”